How It Started

Chapter 36 - Harry Potter.

Selina raised slowly, leaning over the potion. She looked over at someone, who I knew to be Vess and I looked over myself. Vesper gave her a thumb's up and me a quick smile, I looked back over to Selina after smiling back.

She had her face over the potion, and I saw a smile flash over her lip's.

" Mhm. " She said raising. " Candy.. Fireworks and a flare of cinnamon. " She concluded, I couldn't help but smile at the flash of hurt that spread over Draco's face.

Although, I could sympathise with him. However, I'd rather not.

Professor Slughorn quickly moved on to the next and last table, Vess and Mattheo. He gestured to Vesper to begin, she took a deep breath staring at the potion.

I felt my eyebrow's furrow in confusion as a look of panic passed over her face, she looked back up.

" Must I answer? " She asked, professor nodded with a small smile. Her eye's flitted over to my own, and I saw a small smile threaten her lips.

" Quidditch gear, a fireplace and broom wax, I'd say sir. " She said, looking solely at me. I chuckled briefly and she winked, looking back at the professor with an innocent smile. He nodded, moving over to Mattheo.

I looked back over at Selina, not interested in his answers.

" I don't think acting should be one of her career choices. " Selina said looking at Vess.

" Why not? " I said, she chuckled looking at me.

" Did you honestly think she'd describe anyone different? " She asked me, I looked back over to see Vess laughing as Mattheo managed to lean too far into the potion and smear some on his nose.

" Mm. " Was all I responded with as I looked back over to Selina, she raised her eyebrows at me.

" Come on now Mr Riddle. " Professor Slughorn urged, I continued to stare at anything else in the room other than him.

" Okay.. " Mattheo said, taking a deep breath as he stared at the potion.

" Vanilla and old- " He began, I flitted my eye's over immediately. He coughed loudly, with a slight chuckle.

" Sorry, vanilla and olive tree's. " He said, with a grin.

" Right. " Professor Slughorn said, not entirely convinced. I could say I wasn't too convinced myself, he looked over at the large clock leaning against the wall.

" Class is dismissed. " He announced, thank god. I walked out and stood by the door, waiting for the other's. Ron came and stood next to me, followed by Neville and Hermione. Slughorn exited mumbling about needing food and a break, he brought all of that onto himself.

We continued waiting for Vess and Selina, finally after a matter of minutes Selina exited. She saw us all waiting.

" Is Vess still in there? " She asked, I raised my eyebrow's. Surely she would of seen her packing up, I nodded, going to walk inside.

" No, I'll see where she is. Probably locked herself in the ingredients cupboard. " She said, with a small laugh. I smiled half-heartedly but the other three joined in laughing, she ran back inside.

" I swear you're always on edge now. " Ron admitted, looking over at me. I nodded, did I have a reason not be?

" When the dark lord is gone, I'll relax for you Ron. " I said, rolling my eye's. I saw Ron bite down on his tongue to stop himself from laughing at my horrendous response.

Selina walked back out, her eye's were wide for a moment before she saw us and relaxed. She opened her mouth, but pursed her lips' looking at me.

" She'll be here in a second. " She answered, quickly walking away. I raised my eyebrow's at Hermione.

" Odd. " was all she offered, I nodded slowly as I heard the door creak open. Vess walked out, with quite a flustered look on her face.

" Everything okay? " I asked, she was staring at the door behind her and she spun around to look at me.

" Huh? " She asked, then shook her head, smiling once again.

" Yeah I'm fine. " She said, with a half-genuine smile. I nodded slowly, taking her hand and beginning to make our way back to the Gryffindor common room. She began chatting to us all right away, telling us of her plans to spy on Fred and Selina.

" I'm just looking out for Selina. " Was all she said in her defence, we all began laughing and the awkward atmosphere slowly faded away. I looked back at the door as I laughed and saw Mattheo exit, he gave me a sly smile and a nod, pointing at something or someone near me.

I raised my eyebrow's but he shook his head walking away.

Odd indeed Hermione.

We arrived in the common room's and I took a seat in the main area, Ron took his seat next to me.

I opened up the potion's book and began reading, as I usually did when attempting to distract myself or when I was bored. After reading for around 5 minutes I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Vess had put on layers of black clothing as well as sunglasses.

I chuckled and she smiled, however it still did not seem fully genuine.

She ruffled my hair, with a small smile she waved goodbye as she and Ginny exited. I tucked the book in my pocket and stood up, I waved my own goodbye's to Ron and wandered out, to sit in the hall.

I found Neville doing the same, I took a seat next to him.

" Hey Neville - you're a good reader aren't you? " I asked, he looked up from his hand's.

" Books or people? " He asked.

" The latter. "

" Well that's what my grandma always says, so I suppose so. " He finished, looking up at my expression.

" For instance you seem troubled and confused. " He offered, I nodded.

" Spot on. " I answered.

" So?.. " He said, urging I continue.

" Well, Vesper has been acting a touch strange is all. Not all the time, just sometimes. " I said, looking down at my hand's. I sounded over-bearing.

" She seems just as troubled and lost as you do. " He answered, with a shrug.

I looked at him, with furrowed eyebrow's.

" Oh. " I said, rubbing my hand's down my jeans. He nodded. I went to stand, but he continued.

" She seems to be making a decision. To me anyways, she is very often in the main area of the common room at night. " He said, I raised my eyebrow's again.

Why didn't I catch on to any of this?